As reported on the Blotter on ABCNews.com, in questioning certain high-value terror suspects, the CIA has used a series of six increasingly harsh interrogation techniques that begin with a slap to the face and end with a procedure called water boarding, in which a prisoner is made to feel he is drowning.

President Bush and the CIA have repeatedly maintained the procedures are not torture and have saved American lives.

Human rights groups maintain the procedures constitute a form of torture, and the United States military has banned its personnel from using water boarding.

Today's congressional deal, if signed into law, would allow the CIA to continue the six techniques and to continue to run secret prisons overseas for select terror suspects.

Gen. Hayden said the measure "allows us to continue to defend the homeland, attack al Qaeda and protect American and Allied lives."